Go figure: This morning I woke up with a sore throat. I know myself well enough to know if I don’t do anything right now, I’ll soon become miserable. So, once again I'm becoming proactive: pre-emptive.

Whether a start of a cold or allergies, if I don’t promptly plan for both, this will easily spin out of control. For me, that means a seal-barking asthma cough, which will advance to bronchitis, and could possibly add in a sinus infection. (My personal health quirks. We each have our own.)  

I’ve been pretty good about managing all these in recent years: Often being the one who doesn’t get a cold, when others do, or cutting my colds down to about three days in duration.

Being a caregiver, I was extremely careful about staying as well as possible. I didn’t want to pass anything to Mom or her neighbors, knowing their downward spiral would be far worst than mine.  

This time I let my guard down, and my gut knew it. The stress of Mom fading, dying, then the multi-state funeral arrangements, visitation and now closing out her remaining estate.

We all know how the realities of life, whatever they are, often get in the way of taking care of oneself. I’m getting back to being proactive in my self care with the following routine.

What would you be doing in such a situation? 

Sinus Rinse

First I rinsed my sinuses out with saline solution, trying to eliminate any build up of germs and irritants collected by the built-in filtering system in my nasal passages.

Years ago, my ear nose and throat specialist suggested sinus rinses. For years I refused to do them. The idea just seemed gross. Silly me. What a difference they can make!

I personally never liked netti pots. Two years ago I finally found on Amazon a simple system I do like: the NeilMed Sinus Rinse bottle and packets.(I bought two sets, and gave one to my sister.)

ZiCam Cold Remedy

Then I took some ZiCam.

I swear by this form of zinc enough to pay the expense to buy and send it to those I care about who have a tendency to get colds at the worst times.

Whether the Gel Swabs or the RapidMelts, “in clinical studies, people who started using Zicam Cold Remedy at the first sign of a cold got over their cold significantly faster than those who didn’t use it.” 

Typically works for me.

Antihistamine

I finally dug out the antihistamine.

My allergies have gotten so much better. In recent years, I’ve tried not to take anything for them, unless really necessary. During season changes, I know I must.

This year, the Pacific Northwest seasons changed, while I was back in Indiana, so I was late in getting back on track with allergy maintenance. (I don't have hay fever per se, my triggers are molds.)

Airborne Effervescent Dietary

Supplement

Finally, I popped some Airborne into a bottle of water.

I’ve always believed in the power of dosing up on vitamin C when my immune system is down, as did my parents.

I started taking Airborne when a world-traveling colleague swore by it. 

Recently, I’ve heard controversy about the true value of the nutritional makeup of Airborne. But until I decide to find an alternative, if ever, I’m sticking with Airborne.

Usually I take vitamins every morning, but once again, I quit doing that in recent weeks.

Healthier Diet 

Later today, I’ll do a run to the grocery, to get some oranges and Brussel sprouts and other healthy foods. Since I returned from the funeral, my fridge has been low on many of my previous nutritious favorites. Meanwhile, I’m going to replace my beloved coffee (which I had been off of for months) with my green tea and low sodium V-8.  (I try to get my Vitamin C from oranges, versus OJ, to keep the calories down.)

Hope all of this, and good sleep, helps.

I know myself. Usually when I travel on planes and shake hands frequently, I make sure to take my vitamins and wash my hands often. Even when I heard folks at the gym sniffling and coughing recently, and I grumbled to myself about it, I didn’t do anything differently. I’ve delayed long enough.

Back to basic self care 101.